2 bodies return to Japan: Victim's young daughters take same flight home

Feb. 17, 2013
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Written by

Jerick Sablan

Pacific Sunday News

Tourists yesterday pray in front of the memorial to the victims slain in Tuesday's killing spree in Tumon. Two women and a man, all tourists from Japan, died and 11 other people were injured in the tragedy. A Mass is being held at 9:30 a.m. today at the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica in Hagåtña in memory of the victims. The public is encouraged to attend. Virgilio Valencia/For Pacific Sunday News

SPECIAL REPORT: TRAGEDY IN TUMON

•The Pacific Daily News presents a special website that provides comprehensive coverage of the Feb. 12 attacks in Tumon. Readers can find updates, videos, photos and an archive of stories and other features on the special site. Check throughout the day for updates as this story develops.

•A memorial Mass in memory of the victims of the Feb. 12 attacks in Tumon will be held at 9:30 a.m. today at the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica in Hagåtña. Archbishop Anthony Apuron will preside. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend.

•If you are organizing a fundraiser or a gathering in support of the victims of the tragedy in Tumon, email news@guampdn.com so we can share it with the community. Please provide your name, your contact information and all pertinent information about your event or activity.

BY THE NUMBERS

•14: Number of alleged victims from the Tumon attack

•11: Injured people

•3: Confirmed dead

•8: Stabbing victims

•6: Victims allegedly hit by the car

•10: Injured victims who later were released from Guam Memorial Hospital

•1: 51-year-old woman in stable condition at GMH

THE VICTIMS

According to court documents, 14 people were injured or killed during the assault in Tumon. This is the list of victims and their status.

Injured by car

The following six people were hit by a car and injured:

•Hitoshi Yokota, 51, tourist (deceased)

•An unidentified 51-year-old woman, who is married to Yokota (stable condition at GMH)

Tamuning Vice Mayor Ken Santos gives a briefing to a Japanese reporter at the Tamuning Senior Center yesterday. Santos spoke regarding the family of Tumon rampage suspect Chad De Soto.

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The bodies of two of the three Japanese victims of the Feb. 12 Tumon rampage arrived Friday evening at Narita International Airport.

Also aboard the plane carrying the bodies of Rie Sugiyama, 28, and her grandmother, Kazuko Uehara, 81, were Sugiyama's 8-month-old and 3-year-old daughters, who both suffered facial wounds, according to Kyodo News.

Sugiyama and Uehara were on Guam with about 20 relatives to attend the wedding ceremony of Sugiyama's younger brother, scheduled for Thursday.

The man who is alleged to have killed them is Chad De Soto, 21, of Tamuning.

De Soto was arrested Tuesday after he allegedly drove his car onto the sidewalk near the SandCastle dinner show venue and the Globe nightclub, where he struck six pedestrians with his vehicle. He then allegedly drove down the sidewalk until crashing into the ABC Store in the Outrigger Hotel, according to court documents.

He then exited the vehicle brandishing knives and allegedly stabbed eight people, court documents state. De Soto was charged with three counts of first-degree aggravated murder, one count of first-degree attempted aggravated murder and second-degree aggravated assault. He is being held on $3 million cash bail

Uehara and Sugiyama died from stab wounds. The third victim is Hitoshi Yakota, 51, who died from injuries he sustained from being hit by the car. Yakota is still on Guam as his family awaits his wife's recovery.

Stable condition

Yakota's wife, a 51-year-old woman whose name hasn't been released, was in guarded condition for several days until the hospital declared her in stable condition yesterday. Guarded condition is a step below critical, according to hospital officials.

Guam Memorial Hospital Administrator Joseph Verga said he was happy to share the good news of her recovery.

"She's improved and doing better and we expect she'll be able to be discharged very soon," Verga said.

Verga said he's not certain if the family has told Yakota's wife of his passing. He said she is alert and has said a few words since she's recovered from being in guarded condition.

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It's unclear how long she'll stay at the hospital, but they are starting to make plans for her departure, Verga said. He said the hospital will send a medical escort with her to Japan and hopes to finalize plans soon.

An update of her condition will be given tomorrow and the hospital will have a more finalized plan for her and her family then.

Suspect's family

Meanwhile, Tamuning Vice Mayor Ken Santos yesterday gave a media briefing at the Tamuning Senior Citizens Center to talk about how De Soto's family is doing in the aftermath of the killing spree.

Santos said he's not the spokesman for the family and only wants to help the family have privacy in this difficult time.

He said the family is hurting and trying to figure out what happened to De Soto. The family isn't ready to speak publicly, Santos said.

A statement from the family is expected sometime soon. Santos said.

Paying respects

Yesterday, tourists and locals continued to pile items onto two memorials honoring the victims at the site of the rampage in Tumon.

One makeshift memorial is in between the ABC Store and the Outrigger Hotel where the incident occurred. The other memorial is at the site where De Soto allegedly crashed his car into the ABC Store by The Plaza shopping complex.

Several tourists placed bottles of water at the site yesterday. The memorials had a variety of items already placed, including drinks, candy, candles, flowers, teddy bears and balloons.

Tourists paid respect to the victims by bowing and saying prayers for the victims. One tourist yesterday placed three origami cranes in honor of the three killed in the attack, as a symbol of peace.

Local residents say they are in shock over the incident and many are paying their respects by visiting the memorial sites.

Christie Chargualaf and Brianna Naputi, both from Talofofo, placed flowers on one of the memorial sites yesterday.

Both women said they are sad over the incident and are in disbelief that something like it could happen on Guam.

Chargualaf said walking down the same place the tragedy occurred made her feel a little scared for a brief moment. She said she hopes Guam will continue to be safe and that Tuesday's incident is a one-time event.

Chargualaf said she was touched to see the many flowers and other items placed on the memorial site.